When Mary Elizabeth Black was born on 23 May 1855, in South Carolina, United States, her father, Clarendon Black, was 24 and her mother, Sarah Ann Still, was 21. She married Nicholas Calhoun Grubbs in 1880, in Barnwell, South Carolina, United States. They were the parents of at least 3 sons and 4 daughters. She lived in Georges Creek Township, Barnwell, South Carolina, United States for about 50 years. She died on 3 December 1924, in Barnwell, South Carolina, United States, at the age of 69, and was buried in Reedy Branch Baptist Church Cemetery, Barnwell, Barnwell, South Carolina, United States.